Species Vs Mutation

What’s the difference between species and mutations? We get this question a lot, and we get it; it can be super confusing!

In the wild, most species of birds don’t come in the same colors we have in the pet trade. For example, the only wild or natural color budgie/parakeet is green. All of the other colors we see were selectively bred mutations to become the colors and patterns we have today.

But just because they come in lots of different colors, that doesn’t mean they’re a separate species! Just like how dog breeds can come in many different patterns and colors while remaining the same breed, birds can have different colors and patterns in the same species!

For example, a common one we hear is that someone has a “pineapple conure”. This isn’t exactly accurate, and this terminology can get confusing. What they are referring to is a green cheek conure (species) that is considered a pineapple (mutation). Pineapple conures are not a separate species and are still considered a greencheek conure.

Every bird in the attached photo is the same species (green cheek conure), just all different color mutations.

There’s lots of different beautiful color mutations out there! Share your birds, their species, and their mutations in the comments below!